Special Political and Decolonization Committee

Topics

As humans have progressed on their quest for resources, they have turned increasing attention onto the seabed. While the International Seabed Authority (ISA) was formed in 1994 to regulate such matters, the renewed interest in the seabed for mining calls into question the adequacy in regulating all activities under its and UNCLOS’ jurisdiction. Should all states, even without capabilities to mine be beneficiaries of redistribution still? How much responsibility should states take over mistakes by private firms they sponsor? Delegate will explore the issue and define the intricacies within it. Will the principles set in the past still hold today? Or will delegates form a new set of principles altogether regarding the deep sea remains to be seen.

As the climate changes, increasing numbers of people have been displaced due to unsuitable living conditions. According to UN reports, 250 million of such environmental migrants would be internally and externally displaced. Yet, it was only in 2018 that they were even legitimised as climate migrants by the global compact of migration. Facing the issue of a global refugee crisis, countries already face resource constraints and are reluctant to grant them a higher status. Can a clearer definition of environmental migrants be provided then? What are their rights? What can be done about the migration process? Keeping in mind global trends of migration and reactions, delegates will need to project their stances will achieving a consensus of frameworks regarding the issue.

Chairs

Head Chair: Sudarshan Thirumalai

Sudarshan, often called Sudar, is a Year 6 student. His MUN experience began in 2016 with SPECPOL, and he is looking to end his experience in it as well. He loves listening to bands like the Arctic Monkeys and Catfish and the Bottlemen, and often dreams about being in a garageband like the Strokes. When he is not lackadaisical, he is in a mad hustle balancing his academics, going out and a certain game featuring an invisible rat and his mushrooms, or so he hopes. He sincerely hopes that delegates would not restrict themselves just because they feel daunted or out of their comfort zones, lest they regret it after the conference. He is looking forward to seeing lively and rigorous debate and truly wishes for delegates to have a good time in and out of council. He can be contacted at sudar.thirumalai@gmail.com

Deputy Chair: Xi Wenhan

Wenhan is a Year 6 student currently taking the CHEM hybrid subject combination. His MUN journey started in 2015 and since then has gone on to take part in many MUN conferences. With RMUN 2019, he has come out of retirement and this will be his first chairing experience. Outside of RMUN, Wenhan is a Judoka and a member of Interact club. Beyond juggling those commitments and studies, Wenhan enjoys watching food videos on youtube and listening to music. He hopes that delegates enter the conference with an open mind, ready to take part in rigorous debate and also ready to have a good time during and after council sessions. He also hopes that the whatsapp group will last more than a week after the end of the conference.

Deputy Chair: Wynsey Chen

Wynsey is a Year 5 who has found herself knee-deep in the MUN circuit – having started her MUN journey note-passing for RMUN in 2015. 4 years later, she’s glad to be back to contribute to the conference and hopes that everyone else involved in RMUN finds it fulfilling inone way or another. Outside of MUN, she indulges in almost every activity typical of a student in the Humanities Programme, with the added passion for Volleyball as her second CCA. SPECPOL has a special place in her heart, especially after having been a delegate at RMUN SPECPOL herself, and having met her closest friends in the circuit (even till today) at this very conference. Hence, she is hopeful that the delegates of SPECPOL come to the conference with an open-mind – eager to get to learn new things and meet new people.